Immigrant Punk Revolution

Gypsy Punk is more than a genre of music, it is a way of life: one that is ever growing as a nomadic, international counterculture. This Gypsy Punk phenomenon is by no means a new thing. It has been around since the early 1990's,limelight for almost as long. There is quite a bit of speculation as to the exact origin of the genre, however it features a heavy influence from immigration, the Roma culture, punk rock and world folk music. The sudden uprising into a counterculture really seemed to begin with Eugene Hütz, a Ukrainian born eccentric and Chernobyl refugee. Finally arriving in America in 1991, Hütz made his way to New York City to create an eclectic group of immensely musical immigrants from all over the world, this group would be known as Gogol Bordello.

Gogol Bordello is one of the most widely known Gypsy Punk bands, possibly due to the media recognition that the 9 piece ensemble receive. Gypsy Punk embraces a heavy influence on cultural backgrounds, which can undoubtedly be seen and heard through the music. The musicians that make up Gogol Bordello are from all over the world, which gives them a very distinctive, unique sound. Fans of the group are likely to be consumed in a fascination for Eastern European culture and their own heritage. The Gypsy Punk scene is one that the fans can really embrace and be a part of, even if they are not musically inclined.

Eugene Hütz stands out in a crowd with his fantastic outfits, and has often found himself as a muse for major icons and designers in the fashion world. In January of 2008 he served as the inspiration of the Gucci menswear show. This new fashion trend focused on traditional Eastern European costume, and stand-out accessories. Although Hütz is a very fashionable man, in the end it all comes down to his focus on his roots. Growing up in the Soviet Union, fashion diversity was scarce, but being the grandson of a tailor, Hütz was able to create his own style. Although, it is not about the fashion. Hütz and his brain child, Gypsy Punk, have also served as a muse for Madonna. In her directorial debut , Eugene plays the main character, A.K, a part time musician, part time dominatrix, as he struggles to make it with his punk band Filth and Widsom in London. He has also appeared on stage with her during her performance at Live 8 in 2008.

Although Gogol Bordello are one of the more well known of the Gypsy Punk groups currently gracing the sound waves, the scene appears to be ever growing. These bands come in all forms and all sound completely different... while the style remains vaguely similar with a focus on accordion, bass drums and flamenco guitar. The vocals are often a mix of countless languages that branch the hemispheres. Gogol Bordello, often mix Russian, Ukrainian, English, Spanish and Roma. Mixed in with the chaotic sound is a frenetic, yet enjoyably decipherable percussion section that branches out into body drumming, washboards, bass drums, fire buckets and other equally unusual instruments.

Gypsy Punk is a musical revolution that can not be stopped. Since the uprising in the early 21st Century, the phenomenon has continued to grow and encompass the globe. This genre is undeniably unique and offers an alternative, an escape from the boundaries set by modern day society. Gogol Bordello is an iconic band that will no doubt continue to fight the barriers set by mainstream music for decades to come.

Piracy: Helping Indie Musicians Since 1999

Internet piracy and file sharing are two very divisive issues in the entertainment world today. With advances in technology it is forever growing easier for the consumer to access different types of media... for better or for worse. Many musicians and record company executives may argue that internet piracy, or file sharing, is a dreadful blight on the music industry. It normally comes across in the media as being a terrible crime, destroying all hope for musicians to profit from their their record sales... but there is another argument stating that after the record companies get their piece, the musicians profit would be minuscule at best.

With free mp3s becoming more and more prevalent, music reaches a greater audience. This does not necessarily mean that the artist would receive less profit, because this could turn more people on to their music, making for a larger, more dedicated fan base. Friends will share music, and there is nothing that anyone can really do to prevent that. Once a file reaches the internet, you have no control over where it winds up. Which can result in all sorts of troubles... but can also result in more media exposure.

It is a proven fact that less popular musicians actually benefit from file sharing. Because music from other, more widely known musicians are more readily available on the internet, it is easier for the general public to reach. This money that is saved on this music is often spent on the less known artists, whose CDs are harder to find. Although this can have a negative impact on the more famous figures in the media, the ones who will sell out arenas and whose CDs will go platinum, it can greatly help the development of new bands and create a wider fan base for indie musicians on smaller labels.

In a time where people become infinitely devoted to their favorite artists and celebrities, it is hard to say that people will stop buying music. People become emotionally invested in musicians... and will pursue their desires to help them through buying their records and going to their shows. Countless artists lie on both sides of this argument. Many taking very vocal stands for or against it, however, in the end, there seems to be little that can be done to prevent it regardless. People found guilty of file sharing are often fined, but it is such a widespread issue that it is hard to determine who is guilty and who is not.

At a basic form, before the record companies, the investors, big studio executives, it is about the art. Musicians, actors and writers do not usually desire a creative job for the money. In fact it is, in theory, very difficult for people in the entertainment industry to attain a notable level of fame. It seems that the more mainstream artists are the ones that typically complain, however, there are always exceptions. In a survey done in USA Today, 83% of the musicians surveyed responded that they've posted their music online, 35% of the musicians surveyed said that file sharing had helped distribute their music and further their career, and a mere 5% responded that file sharing was detrimental to their music career.

Through the use of technology, what was once a concrete object, such as a videotape or a CD, are transformed into the abstract, digital arts; music and video. Almost every single day we plug in to the internet, where we have access to millions of songs, videos, programs and pictures at the click of a button. It is so easy to find files that we desire, and it is a growing trend that the number of actual media purchases is on the decline. In the computer age technology takes center stage, for better or for worse CD sales are decreasing, and will no doubt continue to decrease... and it doesn't seem as though legal action will do anything to prevent this.

http://www.nin.com/newspost/uploaded_images/2_25_10a-765208.jpg

"Be Everything that Society Hates."

Yesterday, the alternative world lost an icon. Malcolm Mclaren, in addition to being a genius behind the punk and alternative fashion scene, was the manager of multiple influential punk groups from the United Kingdom. Mclaren, although having a falling out with John Lydon, better known as Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols, continued to have a great impact on the art world throughout the 20th Century.

Mclaren was the godfather of the alternative punk scene. Being from a fashion background, starting a store called "Let it Rock" with his then partner, and equally influential fashion icon, Vivienne Westwood, he got his beginnings selling and designing suits for Teddy Boys and designing costumes for the theater. Later, Mclaren and Westwood switched gears, combining their ideologies against the hippie look to make something new and exciting. Inspired by the controversial, the duo renamed their shop "Sex," stocking it with BDSM and S&M apparel. Mclaren's influence on alternative fashion can still be felt today. Malcolm Mclaren is well known as being the creator of the Bondage Pants, a staple in any punk wardrobe. Their combined efforts created the basis for punk fashion that still remains prevalent today. In addition to his significant contribution to fashion, in the 1970's Mclaren managed two massively notorious bands, The Sex Pistols and The New York Dolls. After parting ways with both bands, he pursued his own career in music and managed Adam and the Ants and Bow Wow Wow in the 1980's... which means that he was a huge contributor to the New Wave movement as well.

Malcolm Mclaren was undoubtedly a key player in the punk and new wave scene... but was also one of the original masterminds behind the fashion trends that are still seen and captured today in the high fashion world and among various subcultures and countercultures. He was a genius and a rebel who undeniably had a great impact on pop culture and the entertainment/fashion industry as we know it. Malcolm Mclaren died of Mesothelioma in New York on the morning of April 8th, 2010. Mclaren is an irreplaceable icon who will be forever missed.

Photo Credit:

http://akamai-static.nme.com/images/gallery/malcolmPA090410.jpg
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/images/h2/h2_2004.15a,b.jpg
http://akamai-static.nme.com/images/gallery/malcolmsexpistolsPA090410.jpg

Time For Heroes: The Return of the Libertines!

A few days ago, as if almost out of nowhere, I found myself reading numerous headlines regarding the reunion of the legendary British Indie group, The Libertines. Following a quick, but incredibly well documented destruction at the end of 2004, the group disbanded, their ultimate demise often attributed to the well publicized and often out of control drug abuse of co-frontman Pete Doherty. Having a turbulent couple of months, it came as a surprise that the reunion happened so soon, and thus far, it seems to be for the better.

It happened the day after Doherty was arrested for suspicion of supplying drugs to the late filmmaker, Robyn Whitehead. However, this unexpected reunion seems to be exactly what thousands of Libertines fans worldwide, and possibly even the boys in the band, have been craving since the split nearly six years ago. It is well known that at the very end, Pete Doherty and Carl Barat were barely talking and even required their own personal body guards in the recording studio, however, time seems to have repaired some of these old sentiments, although during the press conference gig Wednesday night at the Boogaloo they were still not quite back to sharing the microphone.

Following a rather lighthearted interview with NME, the full band; Pete, Carl, John and Gary, wandered down to the pub to catch up, the following evening giving a twenty six minute press conference to discuss the parameters of their reconciliation. The group is slated to perform in a headlining slot at the Reading and Leeds festival in August, an announcement that appeared out of the blue amongst headlines from past weeks regarding both frontmen.


Over the course of the past few months both Peter Doherty and Carl Barat seem have been very busy. Doherty, more or less staying out of trouble, however occasionally running into some rough patches along the way, has been performing, and apparently spending time in the studio with his other band, Babyshambles. Carl has kept himself busy acting, earlier this year portraying a lead role in Fool For Love across from Sadie Frost, but has also mentioned that he has a solo album in the works, slated for release later this year.

This reunion is exactly what countless fans have been hoping for, and in the press conference it is apparent that the boys saw this as a key factor in their decision. When asked if they were going to perform new material at the festival, the band responded that it is a possibility, however, their plan is to focus on old favorites. In other news, regarding the festival, the Libertines have promised that they will not disband before they play, and have even hinted at the possibility of writing some new material. At any rate, it seems they are enjoying themselves, mending old wounds and certainly playing it by ear.

Photo Credit:
http://www.nme.com/images/09211_173618_TheLibertines8.jpg
http://community.livejournal.com/thelibs_daily/757918.html
http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/news/nv09/foolforlove333257.htm

Oi!

Skinheads are known for their bad media connotation, however, it was not always that way. In the beginning, it was a subculture that evolved from the Mods, their fun loving vespa riding counterparts. As time goes on, fashions inevitably change... and at first this was yet another instance of an ever changing fashion. First generation skins were typically working class, seeking to adapt a rough look to go along with their lifestyle, while building a practical uniform for working in factories. The original Skinhead was all about the uniform; shaved head, and heavy work boots. What began as an innocently practical trend quickly turned into something far more menacing.

Today, the word "Skinhead" is seen as being synonymous with "Racist." People who adopt the look become judged based on the actions of others. For original Skinheads these values had nothing to do with it. However, almost out of nowhere, the violence started. At the very end of the 1960's in Great Britain, Mods became divided between the Peacock Mods and the Hard Mods. Peacock Mods were less violent, more fashionable and well groomed, while their counterparts, the Hard Mods, were more working class. The Hard Mods eventually made their transformation into Skinheads.

In the beginning it was all about the haircut from which they got their name. Inspired by Jamaican Rude Boys and Mods, Skinheads adopted certain lifestyles and music to represent their fashions. There was no view of race, religion or values that were involved. The Oi! Music movement began, deriving its name from a Cockney expression for "hello." This movement would become the folk music of the working class. By the 1970's this music was a recognized genre. Commonly referred to as a branch of punk rock, Oi! fused ska, glam, folk and various football and drinking chants.

Skinheads are often seen very negatively in the media. Constantly finding themselves to be under the fire of news reporters in connection to violent activity and cases of vandalism. Even though there is this general misconception of all skinheads, it is still hard to overlook the more violent skinheads that dominate headlines and are widely portrayed in movies. There are currently a large amount of white power Skinhead groups in the United States... as well as in most other countries. These groups are usually organized and focus their energy on broadcasting racist, anti-semitic and anti-immigrant propaganda. While most Skinheads are portrayed as falling under this category, a large percentage of them are quite the opposite.

The Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice (SHARP) are an organization comprised of Skinhead who oppose racism and the way that they are portrayed in pop culture. These Skinheads recognize their biracial origins and do what they can to be heard in response to the overall sentiments that they receive from the general population.

Throughout the years there have been multiple resurgences of Skinheads in both the fashion world and on the street. It is no doubt that this look will continue to pop up and that the Skinhead community will most likely remain divided until the end of time.

Picture Credit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hoxton_Tom_McCourt_1977.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Dr_martens_boots.jpg

Only Anarchists are Pretty

Vivienne Westwood: godmother of modern new wave fashion, has been bringing her avant garde fashions to the forefront for over three decades. She is a designing radical whose creations are undeniably unique and her influence is prevalent in the industry worldwide. Always standing apart from the crowd with her unusual selections of wardrobe and her fire colored hair, Westwood serves as an icon, fashion genius, spokesperson and an inventor of beautiful things.

Westwood got her start experimenting with textiles while she was still in school. In 1971, she broke onto the fashion scene when she began designing with Malcolm McLaren, who would go on to become the manager of the Sex Pistols. Incredibly tired of the "hippie look," the creations that sprung from Westwood and McLaren's combined creativity became the basis for contemporary style that would define the punk and new wave movement that would spread from the United Kingdom and encompass the rest of the alternative world. Westwood and McLaren produced clothing from their shop that included bondage wear and BDSM apparel. Immediately musicians and youths would adopt this wardrobe. By the late 70's, with the inspiration of the Sex Pistols and Souxsie Sioux, punk fashion went mainstream. Everyone wanted to sport a torn up t-shirt and a pair of Westwood and McLaren's bondage pants. This overwhelming demand for these sorts of outfits led the due to take their fashion to a different level.

Inspired by fashion from the French Revolution and 18th Century patterns, Vivienne Westwood went on to design a few more greatly influential collections. The Pirate Collection was the beginning. Westwood's first catwalk show featured looks that would go on to define the fashion of the New Romantics. The New Romantics and New Wavers took hold of the 1980's. Sporting elaborate hair and Westwood's designs, the subcultures popularized yet another one of her looks for the general public to consume.

Continuing to design today, Vivienne Westwood proves to be part of the rebellious fashion scene of London. Selling her creations international, Westwood is also an advocate for the environment. She is also involved with politics with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and various civil rights groups. Having a unique outlook on the sale of her looks, Westwood advocates the usage of old things that you can transform into something new, fighting consumerism and overproduction. Sporting her signature tangerine colored hair and ever changing outfits, the fearless designer remains on top, inspiring steadfast fashion trends in a world that is ever changing...

Picture Credit:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3f/Vivienne_Westwood_by_Mattia_Passeri.JPG

http://img.allposters.com/6/LRG/36/3640/LXSEF00Z.jpg

http://www.azcentral.com/style/pics/092805westwood.jpg

CENSORSHIP... today's rambling.

It seems to be inevitable, that every few decades there is a serge in conservative based ideologies on censorship. Since the mid to late eighties, censorship has been heightened by the FCC and technological advances, however has that age old argument of "how can we protect our children?" gone a little too far?

In my opinion, living in a society that allows such a focus on the entertainment industry, it is no surprise that people keep posing this argument. Although, the way I see it, we are also living in a country that often takes pride in mentioning our freedoms. In the United States, at least as far as the first amendment is concerned, we are granted freedom of speech, which also covers our rights to free expression. As an artist, it is almost natural to feel as though these censor uprisings may impinge on my ability to express myself creatively. I am not an overly profane speaker: I am soft spoken and obsessed with reading the thesaurus, but as far as the "dirty word" argument is concerned, as Frank Zappa so eloquently said: "Words are Words."

The fight against censorship is a long one. Censors have been in place since the dawn of the age of pop culture. First it was long hair, clothing, sound, then loud guitars; it was all just a matter of time. Although in the beginning censors were not exactly as concrete as they may be today, there was an unspoken law that governed the media. As time went on, Lyrics became the new enemy. The target of the new conservative majority. Long before the 1980's, countless artists broke onto the airwaves with their groundbreaking, controversial, and downright unique sounds. As time went on musicians would push the boundaries of what previous generations are willing to accept.

Music, movies and art are at the most basic form, purely outlets for expression. Since the dawn of man, art has played an important role in the way that people interact with their environment to spread complex ideas and emotions. Today, the entertainment world is just an extension of this human need for expressive interaction. Although all forms of art are direct and important reflections of human life, in more recent eras art has come under the fire of censorship. Censorship is not an entirely new issue, however, as the entertainment industry grows and various forms of media are more prevalent, people have a greater exposure to different concepts and ideas. In a country founded on freedom with laws protecting our freedom of speech and expression, is it fair for the government and independent organizations to infringe on our artistic rights?

During the 1980's the United States faced a huge battle on the issue of censorship. The 80's were an extremely conservative time in American Politics. Under the Reagan administration, the majority of American citizens focused their energy on the pursuit of a more moral code of governing. With the rise of televangelists and Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority, religious ideals took the forefront in American politics. Due to this new trend, the Parents Music Resource Center, more commonly referred to as the PMRC, would appear on the scene, making entertainers victims of a relentless witch hunt that would take parental responsibilities into the hands of television and radio networks.

The media in America is very strictly regulated. We are seemingly protected from everyday language through the usage of television networks and radio stations. As a country, we typically claim to be open minded, yet, we turn away when we can see the top of a woman's leg? Are we really that uncomfortable with the human body that a swimsuit can prove to be classified as pornography? That hearing certain words can make us turn into a Jekyll/Hyde sort of monster? Words are not magical incantations, hearing certain things will not make us turn to a life filled with violence and crime.

Are parents really so afraid that the media is corrupting their children by using words and low cut dresses? Every single day, you can go outside and see things that people complain about when it hits the screen and speakers? Children can not be protected from television and radio when it is comparatively nothing to what they will be exposed to in every day life. It is the parent's job, not the responsibility of the media, to teach children right from wrong. If they see something that they do not want their children to be exposed to, then they can turn off their television, talk to them about it. Explain and they will listen.

Perhaps it is the fear that children will not listen. Maybe it is the confusion as to when children are developed enough to be able to process certain bits of information, that it takes them until adulthood to develop their brains to the point where they understand what they agree and disagree with. I do not believe that children are nearly as impressionable as they are made out to be. And at any rate, who is to decide? We need to develop our own censors, it is time that the media stops creating them for us.

Mods & Rockers: Introduction

Violent clashes between the tailored suit wearing, vespa driving Mods and the leather jacket clad motorcyclist Rockers were often extremely violent and required the intervention of the authorities...

or did they?

The Mods and Rockers of 1960's Britain were a paradox. They were two youth subcultures that constantly fell into physical conflict, causing a huge moral panic amonth both adults and some of the youths that were involved. Although my the late 60's news of these two groups had vanished from newspapers, their actions and altercations of the previous years would not disappear from memory.

Although in retrospect, it may seem hard to distinguish why their differences would drive them to such violent ends, it is important to point out that there were many things that separated them. The Mods hated the Rockers for their "oafish," grungy appearance... and coincidentally the Rockers hated the Mods for their fashion, which made them come across as snobby and stuck up. Transportation and recreation were also two things that separated them. In basic terms, the Rockers were a motorcycle gang who spent their time in cafes... while their rivals buzzed around on vespas and attended wild, amphetamine fueled nights of dancing in nightclub. I have heard some of the younger generation boast about how their parents still spend their leisure time kicking Mods off of their scooters. Like many youth subcultures, music played a key role in defining values and passtimes, but also created yet another difference which, strangely enough, would also fuel the invetiable conflicts. Mods primarily listened to ska, jazz, rhythm and blues and soul, while the Rockers favored white American Rock and Roll artists. Musical tastes, coupled with fashion and other differences were blown out of proportion, as many situations tend to go. Media coverage, parental concern and the onset of the dreaded public eye would only amplify the matters at hand.

Some of the most recognizable clashes between the Mods and Rockers took place sea in Margate, Brighton and Clacton. The two groups would often bring their own weapons, including the modification of their own clothing for the use of self defense. Mods occasionally would sew blades into the lapels of their jackets to shred the fingers of their assailants. However, when there were no weapons to be found, Mods and Rockers would resort to utilizing large objects that they could use to their advantage. Sometimes even employing cash registers and beach chairs as blunt objects to attack one another.

Despite the numerous accounts of events between the two subcultures, there are a sufficient number of ex Mods and ex Rockers who will contest that the mainstream media blew their struggles well out of proportion. While dealing with abstract conflicts of this sort, it is often that journalists and concerned parents take matters such as these to the forefront, but it is also important to look back in retrospect and analyze just how much of the information is manufactured and misinterpreted.

After the 1960's the Mods and Rockers faded and became Hippies and Skinheads. Since then, there have been a few revival movements, however, many people have no idea that either group existed. Regardless, it is hard to deny that this decade of music and struggle played a key role in the British Invasion that lasted for nearly half of the twentieth century.

Photo Credit:
http://www.oldpolicecellsmuseum.org.uk/images/uploaded/scaled/23.jpg

The British Invasion!

The First Wave...
1964 - 1968

On February 7, 1964 the music world changed forever. Beginning the moment that the Beatles landed in New York, the world would break into a strange phenomenon commonly referred to as "Beatlemania." From this Britain induced craze, music would continue to transform into something new and exciting: The British Invasion. Music, fashion and entertainment would cross over the ocean and find its way into the mainstream American media, starting a trend that would continue to dominate the entertainment industry well into the 21st century.

It all began, perhaps, in the 1950's in Liverpool. From there it would rapidly gain momentum throughout Europe and the rest of the world. Cities with large sailor populations would become a gateway. A starting ground for this fusion of musical genius. As American records were nearly impossible to find in England at the time, British sailors coming home from the United States would return with new records. These American Rock and Roll and Rhythm and Blues albums would intrigue and inspire. Out of the almost nonexistent music scene of previous decades, Liverpool would rise from the ashes of the Merseybeat movement. Merseybeat was composed of a group of youths that began to form bands using traditional R&B influences, added guitar domination and vocal harmonies. Merseybeat would incorporate blues, rock and roll, skiffle and do wop into one hugely successful result that would raise the standards of the music industry. Following the success that the Beatles received in America, record companies were willing to sign just about any British band, regardless of talent. The result of the Merseybeat movement was the birth of hundreds of new bands. These new bands included The Beatles, The Animals, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, The Swinging Blue Jeans and Freddie and the Drummers. Although many of these bands only received a cult following, they were undoubtedly the ones who would bring about the start of the British Invasion.

On the same night that they arrived in America, February 7, 1964, the Beatles performed on the Ed Sullivan Show bringing in over 70 million viewers nationwide. Instantly John, Paul, George and Ringo were transformed into larger than life figures; musical gods and teen idols, launching the Invasion into full swing. Following their success, Merseybeat bands grew in popularity throughout Europe as well as in the United States, but only a few would be greeted with such success as the Beatles. The Rolling Stones quickly found themselves on the radio waves in 1965 with their song “Satisfaction,” which included both suggestive lyrics and intense guitar and vocals. The music scene was changing, and there was nothing that anyone could do about it. Following the innocent sugar coated music decade of the 50’s, this new trend was “shocking” to older generations.

In 1964, the Who traditionally formed in Shepherd’s Bush, London, as well as the Kinks, who would influence many English youths of the mid-60’s to adopt a new, more modern, persona. This subculture would come to be known as The Mods, a term which was short for “Modernists,” who would be responsible for the “Swinging Sixties” image. Although Americans never had their own equivalent of Carnaby Street... the Mods, as well as the Beatles with their pudding basin haircuts and tailored suits, would find their way over the pond to impact everyday fashion in the United States. American teenagers would rush out to purchase merchandise in every direction, collecting memorabilia of their favorite British Bands. The British Invasion style of the 60’s branched from the influence of youth subculture dress that would encompass fashion history dating back to the late 40’s.

The British Invasion is a trend that continues to this day, coming through the censors without warning, encompassing the media in waves, almost at an unpredictable rate. Perhaps it is the result of improved communication between countries, or maybe it is a plain and simple case of nationwide Anglophilia... Whatever the case. The start of the British Invasion arrived unanticipated and remains prevalent in every corner of the entertainment world. When will it strike again? We can only begin to speculate.




Photo Credit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/x-ray_delta_one/4279407489/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13362438@N00/3652160698

Pete Doherty's Turbulent Social Circle...

Peter Doherty; troubled rock star, libertine and prodigal poet, has found himself under fire once again. He has come to be known as an icon, constantly finding himself in some sort of drug related turbulence. Currently fronting Babyshambles, he is the subject of a countless amount of press coverage and a source of inspiration for documentary filmmakers. Recently, after remaining seemingly sober for a record amount of time, Doherty has found himself struggling with the law yet again, this time following his recent stunt at Gloucester Crown Court for bringing 13 doses of heroin into a courthouse. After getting off with only a £750 fine, it seemed as though everything would go back to normal, that he would drift off the radar for a few moments, however, things would prove to be quite the opposite.

The well publicized drug usage of both Doherty, and his longtime friend, and equally notorious gothic poet, Peter Wolfe, more commonly referred to as Wolfman, would once again get the best of them... Filmmaker, and Goldsmith heriress, Robyn Whitehead, 27, was found dead in Wolfe's apartment on the evening of January 28th. The cause of death was apparent drug overdose, however, certain circumstances are pointing the death towards the two troubled rockers.

Whitehead had been working on a documentary on Pete Doherty throughout the past few years entitled "The Road to Albion," which cronicles the rapid decline of the Libertines. This documentary supposedly delved deep into the drug turmoil that he commonly finds himself impossibly tangled with. Scotland Yard declared that the circumstances surrounding the death did not point towards suspicion. However, there is some speculation that Doherty and Wolfe may be more involved than they had previously been believed to be.

This is not the first time that Doherty has been a suspect surrounding a mysterious death. In 2006, actor Mark Blanco took a dive to his death off of a balcony in East London following an argument with Doherty and a group of their mutal friends. The troubled rocker was seen fleeing the scene on CCTV footage. The debate still continues as to whether Doherty can be tied to his death. Being known for his frequent conroversies, a great deal of speculation has arisen regarding both deaths in the musician's social circle.

Sources say that Doherty was seen entering the flat on the night prior to her death. The following day Peter Wolfe and his girlfriend went to check on her, eventually calling an ambulence by nightfall, pronouncing her dead upon arrival. The filmmaker, who had past history of romantic ties to Doherty, was known to be good friends with both musicians. Regardless, theories are flying, and it is hard to say whether more information will be released in the following weeks.


Photo Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/justatenderaffair/3438823379/">